# Become Validator

## **Validators and Exohood**

The Exohood validator launchpad will help you become a validator, so you can play an active part in Exohood's future. Validators are key to the more secure, scalable, and sustainable protocol and bridge we're building together.

By running a validator, you'll be responsible for securing the bridge and receiving continuous payouts for actions that help the bridge reach consensus.

The ExoBridge is a separate contract that uses a multichain-proof-of-stake (MuPoS) consensus mechanism.

Validating in Exohood multichain isn't the same as mining. The outcomes are similar: the work you do will extend and secure the communications an validations in the chains. But the process is completely different because they use different consensus mechanisms.

Becoming a validator is a big responsibility with important preparation steps. Only start the deposit process when you're ready.

**1. Learn about your responsibilities and risk**

The Exohood upgrades will only be successful if validators understand the risks and responsibilities.

**2. Practice on a testnet**

We strongly recommend you go through the entire process on a testnet first to get comfortable before risking real EXO.

**3. Avoid phishing**

Make sure you're aware of how to avoid phishing attacks. We've prepared a list of things to look out for.

**4. Deposit**

Once you're comfortable and understand the risk, you'll go through select the validator process and depositing your EXO.

**5. Wait to become active**

Once set up the preferences, your validator won't become active straight away. Use this time to complete the checklist and get some extra practice on a testnet.

**6. After depositing**

Protect your funds using monitoring, and learn how to handle different real world scenarios.

**Note:** The Exohood's protocol upgrade brings multichain-proof-of-stake consensus to Exohood. For this, we need active participants known as validators. In exchange, honest validators receive financial rewards. Most importantly, as a validator you'll need to post EXO as collateral in other words, have some funds at stake. The only way to become a validator is to make a one-way EXO transaction to the deposit contract on the current Validator contract available on Ethereum and Polygon.